Three Books I Recommend
As the nights grow longer, I find myself ready for bed at 8 pm! I don’t want to fall asleep that early, so it’s a great time to read a book! According to literary icon C.S. Lewis, it’s wonderful to read for pleasure. Mr. Lewis devised a quiz to help you determine if you are a true reader. Here you go:
Do you love to re-read books?
Do you highly value reading as an activity- and not just a “last resort”.
Do you like to reflect and consider the books you have read?
I’m delighted to showcase some books for your reading pleasure! You will find some books by authors new to me, and authors that are well-loved by me.
The Light in the Hallway
by Amanda Prowse
Releases November 11, 2019
From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes the moving story of a man whose life is changed in an instant. How do you start again when you lose the only love you’ve ever known?
About the Author
Amanda Prowse likens her own life story to those she writes about in her books. After self-publishing her debut novel, Poppy Day, in 2011, she has gone on to author twenty-two novels and six novellas. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages and she regularly tops bestseller charts all over the world. Remaining true to her ethos, Amanda writes stories of ordinary women and their families who find their strength, courage and love tested in ways they never imagined. The most prolific female contemporary fiction writer in the UK, with a legion of loyal readers, she goes from strength to strength. Being crowned ‘queen of domestic drama’ by the Daily Mail was one of her finest moments. Amanda is a regular contributor on TV and radio but her first love is, and will always be, writing.
You can find her online at www.amandaprowse.com, on Twitter or Instagram @MrsAmandaProwse, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amandaprowsenogreaterlove.
The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you are a fan of author Amanda Prowse, you will love her latest book, The Light in the Hallway. If you are not familiar with her books, this book will make you a life-long fan. Author Prowse once again had me smiling, laughing and crying. Her books are filled with sentimental sweetness that will pull at your heartstrings. But her stories are also uplifting and encouraging as she shows how regular people get through the tough parts of life.
In this book, which may be my favorite, we confront big, life-changing problems and sorrows through the lovingly and carefully described details of life in a small Yorkshire market-town. The characters are marvelous, not a cardboard place-holder among them. We grow to love Nick and his mates, his wife, his child, his extended family by seeing them go about their daily lives. Some moments are funny, some so sad, as the book draws you into their world.
The story alternates between the summer of 1992, and the present and I was enthralled with each time period. In 1992, Nicky and his two friends were free to wander the small town and moors and have adventures, and free to learn more about life and their place in it. That summer became Nicky’s “light in the hallway”, his touchstone. The book shines with the sweet and touching details- the boys’ innocent banter, made-up games, their big project. But even that season was fraught with sadness and problems.
Nick in the present day, at thirty-five years old, has the same life of small pleasures, mixed with grownup problems. He loves his wife and son, he works at the local factory, but hadn’t he always dreamed of more? Nick’s life changes when his young wife dies and he no longer has someone who turns on the “the light in the hallway.” Nicky fears that he is lost, but once again, it’s the ordinary rhythm and rituals that guide Nick to a new life.
This is a book where the joy of the writing itself equals the story. I know you will love and remember Nicky and his mates and family as much as I did. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
Yesterday’s Hopes
by Jane O’Brien
Take the time to read Book 2 in the Slip in Time series!
Amazon Bestseller!
About the Author
Jane O’Brien discovered her love of writing at the age of ten when she wrote her first ten-chapter book in pencil on notebook paper. She passed it around to all of her friends at school and told them she wanted to be an author. And that planted the seed.
O’Brien’s career life has been varied. She was a piano teacher for over 50 years, a librarian, and a professional proofreader. She is also interested in genealogy, having worked on her own family tree, as well as her husband’s, for over 36 years, which helps to color most of her novels.
Today, as a grandmother, Jane is finally fulfilling her lifelong dream, after successfully having her fourteenth book published, which includes two trilogies, one five-book series, and two Christmas novellas. She lives in West Michigan and writes clean romance with a little history, mystery and family entanglements, all set in her part of the state.
The stories she weaves are about family and the intricate connections of relatives, past and present.
Yesterday’s Hopes by Jane O’Brien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I will start this review by urging readers- if you haven’t read the first book in the series, Yesterday’s Tears, please read it as soon as you can! Yesterday’s Tears is my favorite Jane O’Brien book, and definitely in my top favorites pile. Yesterday’s Tears is the first book in her time slip series and that book has it all as you time slip to 1875 Michigan with an amazing heroine who faces many challenges and just may have found true love.
We have all eagerly awaited the second book in the A Slip in Time series and it’s here! Yesterday’s Hopes continues the story of time traveler Francine, her 1875 pioneer hunk Luke and their challenging but also passionate life in western Michigan. Francine has settled in to her sweet little cabin and is looking forward to her first year of teaching school. Life is busy, with tending the garden, taking care of the chickens, churning butter and visiting with the neighbor ladies. She and Luke are joined by a powerful romantic force and are starting to plan their future together, although what does that really mean when one is a time traveler?
And then…Francine’s sister Dora joins them. The sisters are close, especially since their parents had died and it was fascinating in the first book to see how they tried to communicate with one another, from the one sister in from past to the other sister in the present. In this new book, you will hold your breath and then be elated when it turns out their plan works and Dora suddenly finds herself on the train platform in Twin Lake, Michigan. Dora has come to rescue Francine and take her back to the 21st century.
After a thrilling and heart-felt reunion, Francine helps Dora settle in to life without any conveniences or digital capabilities, in fact, life without a bathroom or much furniture. Dora is a spunky and willful young lady who lives to flirt and soon finds that while the 19th century may lack amenities, men are still the same. They enjoy a woman with beauty and spark. Although Dora is in a hurry to get back to the present with Francine, will she stay a while in 1875 to get to know the mysterious and sexy Rhett Butler-like brother of Luke, the smoldering, bad boy Wade?
As you can see, Author Jane O’Brien continues her wonderful storytelling ways with another “read it straight through” story. In addition to the main characters that seem so real, she includes some favorite characters from the first book and introduces us to some new people, including Daniel in the 21st century who has also fallen under Dora’s spell and is desperately trying to find her.
I know you will enjoy the time you spend with the second book in the series. Author O’Brien infuses all her books with a sense of history and place, and so the time slip writing is quite natural for her. Francine is appealing and resourceful, the townspeople are well-drawn, and the passion between lovers Francine and Luke, and Dora and several men, is engaging, passionate and real. One sister seems inclined to remain in the past and one sister wants to return to the present day. I can’t wait for the third book in the series to see what happens next!
Don’t waste any time- read this book! Thanks to the author for a review copy. This is my honest review.
Johnny Be Good
by Bernadette Walsh
Sometimes a woman does what she has to do to protect her family.
About the Author
Bernadette is a native New Yorker who, when she’s not busy tormenting her fellow commuters on the Long Island Rail Road with the tap-tap-tapping of her laptop, enjoys reading, and now writing, novels.
While Bernadette has hopped around genres from humorous romance to serous women’s fiction, all of her books to date have a common theme: strong women handling what life throws at them the best way they can.
Johnny Be Good by Bernadette Walsh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow! You know that feeling- when you are walking out of a movie and you are still lost in the story and it’s hard to snap back to real life? That’s what this women’s fiction did to me. Call it all the usual adjectives- brutal, searing, honest, painful- you will never forget Peggy, Sean, Veronica or Rose.
Author Bernadette Walsh describes her books, “While I’ve hopped around genres from humorous romance to serious women’s fiction, all of my books to date have a common theme: strong women handling what life throws at them the best way they can.” Peggy is the Irish-American mother in this story who married visiting Irishman Sean Lynch when she became pregnant. After their first child, they had twins and settled in to their life on Rose Hill Road on Long Island and had the usual ups and downs.
But when life becomes even bumpier, Peggy copes with alcohol and the family, which now includes Johnny and Veronica, begins to fracture. This story is told in the first person, mainly by Peggy and Veronica. The author shines as a storyteller- the characters are vivid and real. Veronica’s passion for Irish dancing is a rich part of the story. Neighbor Rose adds a kind touch to the troubled lives of the Lynch family.
I wish I could say that this story gave me hope or that it had a happy ending. It does have the best ending it could have, but this is a troubling and bleak story and could be triggering for some. There are frequent typos, but this story is so overwhelming, they are not a problem. If you like strong characters and honest and real stories, I recommend this book. Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
Looking for more books to read? Please visit my Book Promotions page and explore all the latest releases. Extracts, blurbs, reviews, author info, books links- all waiting for you!
About the Author
One Response to I Read Some More Books! #WeekendReads Edition-33